Why NOT to use half a dishwasher tablet

jobbingmusician

Hi all. My OH was a domestic service engineer until he retired, and since we've been together he's told me lots of really useful things about household appliances - I thought it was time to start sharing 'the knowledge' even though I think some of it may be unpopular.

This thread is about why you shouldn't try to save money by cutting dishwasher tablets in half and using only half - because I know some MSE's do this.

Dishwasher tablets are formulated and measured to clean the dishes, deal with the grease and limescale, and make the salt in the machine work properly. If you don't have enough of the active ingredients in the wash, grease and limescale builds up and this can destroy the seals on the main recirculating pump*. The cost of this is about two thirds the cost of the dishwasher. It also breaks down the door rubber.

Grease also builds up, which will make the dishwasher start to smell. One indication of a problem is that the stainless steel heater goes white - this means that you are not using enough powder and/or salt. Bacteria start to grow - this may happen before you notice visually that your dishes aren't as clean. :eek:

Apart from the health risks, using less than the recommended amount of powder will shorten the life of your dishwasher - OH estimates by about half.

You can save money on dishwasher stuff - either buy loose powder (Finish do make this, although it can be difficult to source) or we have just experimented with Lidl tablets and are delighted with them!

Just to emphasise, we have no shares or interest in any dishwashing powder manufacturer - just conscientious MSEs...

*all technical terms courtesy of OH

economiser

We are on our third dishwasher and they have lasted 12 years, 8 years and the current one 10 years and still going. We have never used tablets, just the cheaper powder, and have always reduced the quantitites when only having a part load. The instruction book recommends this. I can't say we have experienced any of the problems mentioned. We do have softened water though but don't like to use too much detergent as we have a septic tank.

Fraserca

I don't use salt in my dishwasher as it is only used in the water softening. Where I am the water is already soft and using salt is a pointless waste of money.

A call to your local water company asking for details of your supply will involve them asking for your postcode. They can then say if you need to soften your water or not. They are also obliged to give you exact figures for hardness if you want to get really techie or if you don't trust their advice.

nearlyrich

Fraserca wrote:

I don't use salt in my dishwasher as it is only used in the water softening. Where I am the water is already soft and using salt is a pointless waste of money.

A call to your local water company asking for details of your supply will involve them asking for your postcode. They can then say if you need to soften your water or not. They are also obliged to give you exact figures for hardness if you want to get really techie or if you don't trust their advice.

We have soft water too and therefore don't use salt and we have had our DW for 12 years, replaced last year but original is still going. I use tablets but don't cut them in half, we just wait till DW is full before we switch it on.

Queenie

:eek: I didn't know I had to give my dishwasher tablets!

*races into front room and hands dh an indigestion tablet* Sorry, I couldn't resist

I'm anti dishwasher machines ... but, that's probably another thread entirely

Cerbera_2

Queenie wrote:

*races into front room and hands dh an indigestion tablet*

Same in our house and I'm cheaper to run